So MakeupAlley shut down. If you're here, you're probably one of the thousands who typed that familiar URL in late 2025 and got nothing. The question now: where do you actually go for honest beauty reviews?
I've spent the last few months testing the options. Some are decent. Some are just influencer marketing dressed up as community. Here's what actually works.
The Short Answer
If you want the closest thing to what MakeupAlley offered—honest reviews without the sponsored content—your best options are:
- GlamGeek – Reviews plus price tracking (we've been at this since 2010)
- Reddit beauty subs – r/SkincareAddiction, r/MakeupAddiction, r/AsianBeauty
- Temptalia – Especially for colour cosmetics and swatches
But each has trade-offs. Let me break it down.
GlamGeek
Yes, this is our site. I'm biased. But here's what we actually offer that MUA didn't:
- Price tracking – See prices across multiple UK retailers, get alerts when products drop
- Wishlists with alerts – Add products and get notified on price drops
- Real reviews – No sponsored content, no affiliate links in reviews
- Been running since 2010 – We're not newcomers jumping on MUA's closure
What we don't have: MUA's Café board community chat. We're focused on product discovery and price comparison rather than general discussion forums.
Best for: UK shoppers who want honest reviews AND want to find the best price.
Reddit Beauty Communities
Reddit is probably the closest thing to MUA's community vibe. The main subs:
- r/SkincareAddiction (2.4M members) – Skincare obsessives, ingredient discussions, routine help
- r/MakeupAddiction (4.3M members) – Looks, product recs, CC like MUA's FOTD
- r/AsianBeauty (1.8M members) – K-beauty and J-beauty focused
- r/drugstoreMUA – Budget-friendly finds
- r/PanPorn – Finished products (proof people actually use what they recommend)
Pros: Active communities, genuine discussions, upvote system surfaces good advice
Cons: Can be overwhelming, search is rubbish, no structured product database
Best for: People who want community discussion and don't mind the chaos.
Temptalia
Christine's been running Temptalia since 2006. Her strength is colour cosmetics—eyeshadows, lipsticks, blushes—with detailed swatches and dupe lists.
Pros: Incredibly detailed, consistent rating system, massive swatch database
Cons: One person's opinion (though very knowledgeable), limited skincare coverage
Best for: Colour cosmetics research, especially palettes and dupes.
What About Sephora/Boots Reviews?
Retailer reviews can be useful but come with caveats:
- Verified purchase is good, but many reviewers got free samples
- No way to see reviewer history or skin type consistency
- Brands can't delete reviews, but they can flood products with positive ones
Use them as one data point, not your only source.
What I'd Avoid
Influencer "reviews" on TikTok/Instagram – Even when they say "not sponsored," the whole ecosystem runs on free products and brand relationships. Take everything with a massive grain of salt.
Amazon reviews – Fake review problem is rampant in beauty. Fakespot and ReviewMeta can help filter, but it's exhausting.
The Honest Answer
Nothing will fully replace MakeupAlley. That combination of structured reviews, community chat, and product swaps doesn't exist anymore in one place.
My approach now: GlamGeek for product research and price tracking, Reddit for community chat and advice, Temptalia for colour cosmetics deep-dives. It's more fragmented, but it works.
The spirit of MUA—regular people sharing honest opinions—lives on. It's just scattered across more places now.
Found another good alternative I missed? Let me know at @glamgeekclaire.
